Placemaking report - Argyll and Bute · 2011-02-09 · ensuring a successful and thriving town centre. The Council recognises the importance of engaging and involving the broader

Rothesay Placemaking report September 2010

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION

Project Overview 2

Vision Statement 3

Overall Vision 4

PLACEMAKING PROGRAMME

Short Term recommendations and action plan 9

Long Term recommendations and action plan 16

Annex 1 Detailed observations 18

1

PROJECT OVERVIEW

2

It also includes a range of recommendations which fall out with the specific scope of the THI but which can be delivered through other mechanisms and partners. These recommendations are equally important in ensuring a successful and thriving town centre. The Council recognises the importance of engaging and involving the broader community in looking at the town centre public spaces in order to determine how they can best meet the needs of islanders and visitors. Placemaking Scotland was brought in to help initiate this and to identify a detailed public realm programme for the town centre. The Place Evaluation process began with a stakeholder workshop in early February 2010. The workshop involved the community, a variety of local advocates, council officials from a range services, and a range of specialist interests and agencies interested in public space improvements. The outcomes of this workshop form the basis of the public realm programme. Discussions have been held with those who will be involved in delivering these, in order to gain a technical analysis of the workshop outcomes and recommendations, resulting in the development of the action plans within this report. Further spatial analysis has also been undertaken in order to further define and demonstrate how the specific spaces could function and connect in order to gain maximum benefit for the local community, businesses and visitors.

The Isle of Bute lies in the Firth of Clyde, tucked into the spectacular sea lochs of southern Argyll. 15 miles long by approximately 4 miles wide Bute is less than two hours from the city of Glasgow. The main town Rothesay is located on the east side of the island and for years was a prime holiday destination for many Glaswegians. However changing holiday patterns and consistent depopulation has taken the shine off the town’s Victorian seaside glamour. Dereliction and demolition has left prominent gap sites, raw gable ends and frontages in poor repair. In 2009 Argyll and Bute Council made a successful Stage 1 application to the Heritage Lottery Fund Townscape Heritage Initiative grants scheme. This recognised Rothesay’s special built heritage value and the need for investment in the built fabric of the town centre. The stage 2 application was submitted in May 2010. HLF will hopefully make their decision whether or not to fund the project in November 2010. An application for funding has also been submitted to Historic Scotland for a January 2011 decision. Rothesay’s THI focuses on the heart of the town around Guildford Square, adjacent to the Rothesay’s medieval royal castle. Numerous regeneration projects will be undertaken to improve the area making it a more attractive place for local people and to attract visitors. This report outlines a community Placemaking Evaluation study conducted by Placemaking Scotland, Argyll and Bute Council THI and partners. It focuses on the public realm elements of the town centre, identifying a series of recommendations for public realm improvements and activities that will form a core element of the success of the THI.

Rothesay is a handsome, historic town – we aim to create a distinctive town centre boasting a vibrant and accessible public realm network that both showcases Rothesay’s history and heritage, and provides a range of year round functions for local people and visitors. This will support the reinstatement of Rothesay as one of the Bute’s prime attractions.

3

VISION STATEMENT

OVERALL VISION

4

Successful places whether they are town centres, neighbourhoods or single spaces such as public squares all share a number of key characteristics. The most successful places, the ones that flourish socially and economically, tend to have certain qualities in common. First, they have a distinct identity. Second, their spaces are safe and pleasant. Third, they are easy to move around, especially on foot. Fourth, visitors feel a sense of welcome. Places that have been successful for a long time, or that are likely to continue to be successful, may well have another quality, which may not be immediately apparent - they adapt easily to changing circumstances. Finally, places that are successful in the long term, and which contribute to the wider quality of life, will prove to make good use of scarce resources. They are sustainable

Designing Places a policy statement for Scotland (2001)

A positive sense of place is fundamental to a richer and more fulfilling environment. It comes largely from creating a strong relationship between the street and the buildings and spaces that frame it. A positive sense of place encompasses a number of aspects, most notably the street’s: local distinctiveness; visual quality; and potential to encourage social and economic activity.

Designing Streets a policy statement for Scotland (2010)

.

Rothesay has an enviable starting point in terms of its location, sense of tradition and levels of community interest in improving the town centre. Architecturally, it is an attractive and historic town and much of the fine grain of public realm (street furniture etc) is distinctive and matches well with the setting. The Rothesay Townscape Heritage Initiative, the CHORD programme and wider interest in regenerating the town centre area offer an opportunity to begin to change things for the better. The gap sites, roofless buildings and windows-less facades, are a significant problem. The impact of these spaces and buildings on the overall feel and appearance of the town centre is significant and detrimental. Given the current economic climate and its impact on development, temporary solutions to these spaces and buildings are essential. A number of issues need to be tackled if Rothesay’s town centre is to be turned around and to become a truly great place . These issues are interconnected but can be considered under the following headings:

• Access and Linkages • Comfort and Image • Sociability • Use and Activity

PLANNED OUTCOMES

• better connectivity both physically and visually through the town centre and to key destinations

‘I would just like to be able to move around through an attractive environment’

(Place Evaluation participant)

Rothesay town centre is a busy place with many local businesses and shops providing services for local people on a daily basis and the ferry brings visitors directly to the town center.

However there is a confusion of pedestrian and public realm infrastructure, layout and sightlines. This, alongside a dominance of cars and vehicles, results in poor connectivity and ease of access to and through the town, making it easier for visitors to by-pass the town centre and its attractions entirely.

Once in the town many of the attractive but narrow streets are not walkable, due to parked cars. Routes to key attractions such as the castle and museum, or to individual businesses, are fragmented by different levels, car priorities, and ad-hoc pedestrian facilities.

Additionally, the ferry terminal is poorly connected to the town centre both visually – with the walkway system and building layout obscuring views into the town as people disembark – and physically with crossings and directional signage misaligned with the exit.

ACCESS & LINKAGES

• streets and public spaces functioning for

people rather than cars (both traffic and parking)

• rationalised parking in the town centre

OVERARCHING RECOMMENDATIONS Walkability and connectivity

- consider introducing and realigning road crossings in key areas

- information and signage aligned with the ferry - tackle different levels through the town and

main square - create facilities for cyclists - easily identifiable pedestrian routes - create a more attractive, accessible and

connected arrival point at the ferry terminal - improve links from port to and through the

town centre Traffic management and pedestrian priority

- get parking off the street – use gap sites, spare taxi spaces etc

- provide more flexible parking arrangements for shoppers

- get parking out of Guildford Square and Albert Pier – returning these spaces to people

- review vehicular and pedestrian routes

5

COMFORT & IMAGE OVERARCHING RECOMMENDATIONS

Repair and maintenance of buildings and features

- generally clean and tidy up the whole area and infrastructure

- creating a more cohesive and cared for image for the seafront buildings and features

- boarding up windows in roofless buildings and using these to create features

- tackling gutters and down pipes – poor condition is contributing significantly to the degrading of building facades and to the run down appearance of the town centre

Integrating the history and heritage

- reinstating missing Victorian architectural features - history and heritage trail and interpretation

Cohesive and attractive streets and spaces

- landscaping and greenery in public spaces and on streets

- cohesive street scapes – coordinated use of materials, designs and colour

- creative uses of blank walls and empty windows - street art and banners - greater physical separation of Guildford Square

from main road

‘Rothesay has lots of lovely features but it feels scruffy and run down’


Rothesay has a rich and valuable heritage and boasts a number of attractive and architecturally significant buildings, spaces and features. However many of these are in a run down condition, and combined with the numerous, unmanaged gap sites, gives the overall appearance of a town centre in decay.

5.

In addition there is little evidence or interpretation to celebrate and inform the community or visitors of the towns heritage features, history, or attractive setting.

PLANNED OUTCOMES

•

•

6

Rothesay town centre is an attractive

destination in its own right with - improved condition and appearance of

buildings in the town centre - improved interpretation of the town

including informational signage - greater cohesion of streets and public

spaces key attractions in and around the town centre

are showcased and easy to reach from the ferry terminal

SOCIABILITY

Rothesay is a friendly and welcoming town, with a range of unique attractions and shops and services. It should be somewhere that local people and visitors alike want to spend time.

Unfortunately, at present, the condition and appearance of the town centre; relatively low levels of promotion of the town; the shortage of activities and a lack of social spaces all combine to make Rothesay a place you pass through quickly not one where you would choose to linger. (Rothesay is ‘slippery’ when we would prefer it to be a ‘sticky’ place). The absence of other people means that the town centre does not feel like a social place.

The public realm – public spaces and streets - has an important role to play in creating opportunities and reasons for locals and visitors to spend more time in the town.

PLANNED OUTCOMES

•

•

•

Rothesay town centre has a range of attractive

spaces where people choose to meet and spend time

the town centre attracts and holds visitors to the island

the public realm in the town centre integrates well with and enhances the built environment

7

OVERARCHING RECOMMENDATIONS Create more spaces and areas where people will choose to congregate

- improve the appearance and levels of Guildford Square

- open up the Albert Pier and areas around the taxi rank to allow people to congregate near the harbour and marina

- encourage businesses to use the pavement space in front of their premises (pavement cafes etc but also displays to slow down pedestrians and draw them into the shops)

- well designed and located seating areas Create opportunities for visitors to explore and find out about the history, heritage and culture of Rothesay Create opportunities for visitors to meet local people

- events and activities in public spaces - local businesses and public buildings

‘reaching out’ from their premises into the public realm

Wider promotion of Rothesay and it’s attractions on the ferry and at the ferry terminals in Rothesay and Wemyss Bay

OVERARCHING RECOMMENDATIONS Function and facilities – enabling people to use existing spaces better, creating new use and new public space resources

- short term function of gap sites and garden areas or meeting spaces

- better seating facilities in key public areas - installing shelter structures to encourage year

round use Supporting local entrepreneurship and economy

- empty shop units and windows as temporary displays and galleries

- workshop units for local artists and businesses in empty buildings and gap sites

- key public spaces as temporary art displays - artist centre in gap site at Guildford Square - promote and expand cycle hire opportunities in

the town centre - existing business to use public areas –

pavement cafes, external displays Events and activities

- performance space in main square - notice board promoting events and activities - walking tours (linked to history/ heritage /art trail) - organised events and markets in Guildford

Square and other key public spaces - coordination and cooperation between local

business, Calmac and tourist services in relation to activities and events planned and programmed in the town

[the success of small town ‘branding’ such as ‘Wigtown Book Town’ is a useful model for the way in which Rothesay could both support and promote specific local trades such as artists]

8

USES & ACTIVITIES

‘There is no community ownership – the spaces are “someone else’s” ’


Rothesay has an active and engaged local community, who are supported by a range of agencies and organisations. However, currently the town’s public realm and spaces do not provide inviting or adaptable locations for people to use them to their full potential.

Use and function of the public realm must be considered and developed with both the needs and interests of local people and visitors in mind, in order that interest and ownership is generated and sustained. Alongside the reuse or redesign of existing and new spaces, there is an important role to be fulfilled in supporting use: Allowing activities from shops, services and buildings to spill into public spaces; enabling groups and people to use public areas as an outdoor resource for their activities; and programming outdoor events and celebrations throughout the year.

PLANNED OUTCOMES

•

•

•

Rothesay’s town centre is a vibrant, busy

and successful place with activities for local people and visitors

local business make full use of town centre buildings and public spaces

all new activities in Rothesay build on existing businesses

Short Term Recommendations (note: although actions are assigned to specific themes, many will deliver results against more than one theme) ACCESS & LINKAGES

Recommended Actions high

priority considerations/technical

issues/details of work underway

key locations for this action lead agency / individual other key partners

yes/no Streets and squares Make Watergate an attractive walkway

- get parking off the street - improve gap sites with temporary landscaping

in advance of future development (formalise local business/owners’ parking in some of these spaces?)

Y Local business, Argyll College and BiB input already in place to sow wildflower and fence off gap site at Watergate (fencing needs to be attractive and to enhance the streetscape) Suggest look back at Bute Archives to create feeling of quay side as old buildings originally laid out when sea level rose to Watergate/Bishop Street

Watergate

AB Council Roads and Amenities Traffic Warden

Fyne Homes….looking to create parking space at top of Watergate as part of new courthouse development

Reduce the number of taxi spaces and use space created to create a sheltered sitting area for people waiting for taxis or just people watching

Y Move some taxi spaces to the pier as cars already wait here

Albert Place AB Council Roads and Amenities

Realign the pedestrian crossings, ferry exits and information

Y Albert Place AB Council Roads and Amenities

Add covered cycle parking Y AB Council Roads and Amenities Commission and carry out a Traffic Management & Parking Study including taxi ranks

Y High priority as a framework for anything else done in the townscape

Albert Place, Guildford Square, Watergate, ferry exit, junction of Albert Pl and West Princes Street

AB Council Roads and Amenities

Information and signage Move information / directional signage to tie in with the ferry exit

Y A community notice board is a high priority.

Opposite pedestrian and car exit

AB Council Streetscene DBLPS

Marking of pedestrian routes Y Important so that visitors know where to walk; connectivity through the town and onto other sites

AB Council Streetscene Isle of Bute Tourism and Marketing Group

Mark out a landing area for the Waverley with pathways leading to the Winter Gardens and Guildford Square

Y Initially, this can be done using painted lines on the roadway. Consideration also needs to be given to the routes across the main street (at present people leaving the Waverley don’t connect up with the pedestrian crossings)

AB Council Streetscene Isle of Bute Tourism and Marketing Group

Add Pavilion and promenade to the finger post Y AB Council Streetscene Reinstate iron signage holders and timber hung signs Y THI Isle of Bute Tourism and

Marketing Group

9

COMFORT & IMAGE



issues/details of work underwaykey locations for this

action lead agency / individual other key partners

yes/no Streets and squares Tidy up streets Y Already underway (Bute in Bloom)

THI proposes to enhance the buildings

Guildford Square (Option to create an outdoor covered stage in gap site here with lighting etc…could be dismantled to allow area to be multi functional? …theatre groups, folk/jazz/Highland Games festival venue, invite local/mainland bands to play, New Year street party? Ideal site with raised area in square and lowered front area for possible seating etc. BiB looking at short term fix here. To paint railings, have already cut back conifers and looking to place butterfly sculptures in gap site and on fence here…possibly have a pulley system in place to hoist banners onto framework

AB Council Streetscene & THI residents, business owners HLF, Historic Scotland, LEADER

Clean the seats and introduce an ongoing programme to paint them Rothesay blue (as maintenance/upgrade is required)

N Cleaning and painting underway – need decision on blue rather than the black and white currently used

AB Council Streetscene Future Jobs Fund

Develop/promote alternative offerings to memorial benches e.g. flower tubs

N A solution is required for this for the long-term – eventually there will be too many benches/benches in need of repair

Ongoing costs for plants/watering etc…could look at permanent planting or ask Bute Horticultural Society to get involved

AB Council Streetscene BHS?

10

COMFORT & IMAGE (cont.)





yes/no Streets and squares (cont.) Introduce public art/sculpture (temporary initially) in key public spaces – local artists

Y As part of the Island’s Festival? Guildford Square and Montague Street Trees in planters to create a green space and more benches in Montague Street. Old garden site next to TSB bank is outdated. Opportunity to create new amenity area here. Planters recently placed on Guildford Square…donated by Bute fabrics and Mount Stuart Trust

Argyll and Bute Artist Collective AB Council Arts Development

Replace the Xmas sign and improve lighting (atmospheric and events) in Guildford Square – should be low energy

Y Funding options currently being pursued

Guildford Square AB Council Lighting

Hang vertical banners on the lamp posts – Guildford Square

N Banners and posters would only work within a zoned area to ensure the vibrancy, otherwise they can visually litter the place

Guildford Square and promenade

AB Council Streetscene

Repair and clean bus stop shelters Y This is being pursued AB Council Public Transport Clean paving in the square N On-going by streetscene AB Council Streetscene Move bins off footways Y Move these to allow enough

space for wheelchairs Would need to look at reasons and alternatives etc

Montague Street AB Council Streetscene

Make sea defences more interesting by using them as part of a historic or art trail (images/information boards etc)

Y Sea defence wall – promenade

Argyll and Bute Artist Collective AB Council Arts Development

Photography Club

Take action to tackle dog fouling in public spaces Y Dog Fouling (Scotland) Act 2003 is in place – publicity and enforcement (fines issued) may be needed to ensure that the message is getting across Look to run further articles in press/radio – on-going

Throughout island, especially beaches

AB Council Roads and Amenity Police

Consider a bye-law which would prevent the feeding of birds in and around the town centre

Y Under discussion Town centre AB Council THI

Reinstate draught boards and add a chess/backgammon area, and turn the old play putting area into French boules

Y Esplanade

11

Buildings Encourage owners to clean the bottom of shop frontages on Guildford Square (where they meet the pavement) as part of Bute in Bloom

Y Guildford Square and THI area

AB Council Streetscene THI

Decorate the gable end of the Argyll Arms and other blank gables through the area – hangings or green walls

N Bute in Bloom; gardeners groups, local community (??)community, Bar owner?

Create temporary galleries in empty shops and/or exhibition space in shop windows

Y Arts Development Officer can offer advice and support re artwork in shops/temp galleries Could pursue this as part of the Islands festival, perhaps joining up with another island such as Orkney

Old Post Office (plus a small number of pilot sites to show what is possible)

Argyll and Bute Artist Collective AB Council Arts Development THI

Photography Club, Bute in Bloom?

Paint boarded up windows (or use them to locate art/photography etc)

Y Old Post Office (plus a small number of pilot sites to show what is possible)

Argyll and Bute Artist Collective AB Council Arts Development Historic Scotland CARS scheme

Photography Club

Promote the need to tackle failed gutters and down pipes – linked to THI maintenance guide and to ‘owners association’

Y THI AB Council HLF; Historic Scotland

Gap sites Tidy up gap sites Y Already underway (Bute in Bloom) THI AB Council Streetscene and THI residents, business owners

HLF; Historic Scotland

Sow wild flower seeds into the gap sites Y Already underway (Bute in Bloom) AB Council Streetscene residents, business owners Screen gap sites and create art on the screens Y AB Council Arts Development

Artists Collective

Decorate or take down the fence at the back of Victoria Y Already underway (Bute in Bloom) AB Council Streetscene AB Council Arts Development Artists Collective

residents, business owners

12

SOCIABILITY



issues/details of work underway


yes/no Streets and squares Encourage local businesses to use public spaces (including the pavements outside their premises)

Y THI – Guildford Square A & B Council HLF; Historic Scotland; LEADER

Create new, sociable seating areas N A & B Council Information and promotion Provide more information for visitors Y Branding Bute exercise AB Council

Tourism and Marketing Group Mount Stuart

VisitScotland

Promote Rothesay on the ferries Y Develop and present a ‘Rothesay Story’ at the ferry terminal in Wemyss Bay and on the ferries

AB Council Tourism and Marketing Group

Historic Scotland; DBLPS; CALMAC

Involve businesses in promoting facilities and attractions

Y Branding Bute exercise Tourism and Marketing Group Mount Stuart

HLF; Historic Scotland; VisitScootland

USE & ACTIVITY

Recommended Actions Is this a high

priority

considerations/technical issues/details of work

underway


yes/no Streets and squares Create a small community garden at the corner of Bishop Street

N Already underway as part of work on gap sites etc

Area at top of Bishop Street – currently cobbled Even trees planted here would create a better ambience in this area. Possibly containerised?

AB Council Streetscene Fyne Futures?

Create more space at the junction of East Princes Street and Albert Place to allow for use as a pavement café (initially through re-marking road at junction and using planters to keep vehicles out of the marked area)

Y AB Council Roads and Amenities

Create cycle parking in the town centre Y AB Council Roads and Amenities Sustrans Use Guildford Square for events and markets Y Starting to happen more – action

is to encourage this See earlier suggestion of stage in gap site

AB Council

Erect a history and community events notice board in the garden area next to the TSB

Y Links to the castle interpretation AB Council Historic Scotland

Put some seating into Montague Street Y Future donated benches in Blue?

AB Council Streetscene

13

14

Gap sites Create temporary public spaces in the gap sites – gardens / canopies / screens

Y Watergate AB Council

Other Create a history trail and leaflet Y Storytelling walks about

Rothesay/people (Kean/Hunter; people that were mentioned in Museum exhibition that had links to Bute – war/Striven etc)

Bute Museum DBLPS

HLF Camera Club; Bute Artists Collective

Run walking tours Y Bute Museum HLF Note: There needs to be a clear and agreed policy on how to promote both Bute and Rothesay as destinations to ensure that there is continuity re message on the island.

Long Term Recommendations ACCESS & LINKAGES





yes/no Reprioritise traffic and pedestrian access around the town centre – using one-way streets, pedestrianisation and shared use to redress the balance between pedestrians and cars

Y Option to use dead space on prom for all town parking would resolve most of these issues Make more pedestrian free and less car orientated

Seafront Promenade/West church


Pedestrianise Montague Street, or create ‘shared space’ with pedestrian priority

N As above AB Council Roads and Amenities

Tackle the pavement levels in Guildford Square – currently these are a strong deterrent to anyone with even a degree of restricted mobility.

Y Some levels could be adjusted to create raised ‘stage’ areas for street events but overall, differences in levels need to be rationalised …Covered stage in gap site for community events


Change the layout of the embarkation/disembarkation at the port to maximise connection to, and impact of, town centre

Y Even if the main terminal is left in its current form, the embarkation point for the Waverley must be improved


Review positioning of bus stops and taxi rank in line with new pedestrian-focused layout of town centre

Y AB Council Public Transport

COMFORT & IMAGE





yes/no Restore derelict and dilapidated buildings in the town centre

Y THI and CARS AB Council Building owners, HLF, Historic Scotland

Replace the roofless buildings in Bishop Street and Watergate – either with new buildings or with quality spaces

N Private owners

Reinstate the Victorian railings around the Winter Gardens and putting greens

N Heritage funding? Speak to Bute Conservation Trust

AB Council

Increase the sense of separation between the main road and Guildford Square (identity and safety)

Y Prom parking would help to alleviate this

AB Council

Develop a sustainable programme to tackle failed gutters and down pipes – through information, support and/or enforcement

Y THI and CARS AB Council HLF, Historic Scotland

15

SOCIABILITY





yes/no Move parking from Guildford Square to create a larger pedestrianised area linking to a ‘partially open' space solution for the big gap site*

Y As above AB Council Roads and Amenities

Increase the amount of seating and make it all the same to increase continuity

Y Agreement on colour needed AB Council Streetscene

Create shelters (these could be movable/removable) for at least some of the seating areas

Y ? AB Council Public Transport

Remove parking from Albert Pier – creating a place for people to sit and enjoy the harbour*

Y Prom parking AB Council Streetscene

* (it was suggested that parking could be relocated to the promenade as in Dunoon or that the pavement from the Pavilion to the Winter Gardens could be narrowed to allow for diagonal parking. Both of these suggestions need to be reviewed against the desire to encourage people to walk and cycle along the sea front) USE & ACTIVITY





yes/no Appoint a Town Centre Manager N Need to develop some system for

overseeing and coordinating activities and management of the town centre – whether this is a new town centre manager or not may be less important

AB Council

Establish a more permanent events programme focused on Guildford Square but making use of the other public spaces in the town centre and, where possible, also using the streets

Y How will this be achieved without someone dedicated to bring it together? What about the 2020 vision for Bute people? See above for town centre manager/management system A farmers market on Guildford Square would be good As above re stage and possibly cover square with permanent tent style canopies

AB Council DBLPS Marketing and Tourism Group

Create a focus on artists’ studios and galleries for the centre of Rothesay – including the creation of an art centre

Y Gap site Guildford Square…multi functional stage/covered area?

THI area; Royal Hotel? Not in the THI but an ideal building for these types of studios. WASPS may be interested in this idea

AB Council Arts Development Artists Collective

WASPS, Historic Scotland and possibly HLF

16

17

Create small workshop units (with private storage) within empty buildings (or within the footprint of derelict buildings)

N Private

Create a covered arcade on Westbridge Street – in keeping with the architecture of the buildings and the bus shelters etc

N Cover (with something to do) would be a useful addition somewhere in the town centre – this could be a covered street; new shelter areas around Guildford Square or a rethink of the use of the shelter at the marina

AB Council

Create a performance space (band stand) N Gap site Guildford Square – this may only be a medium term option and other sites should also be considered either instead of this space or as an alternative once development of the gap site takes place

AB Council

Annex 1: Detailed observations on the use of the area around Guildford Square & the Ferry Terminal

18

This report summarises a series of observations made and issues noted in the centre of Rothesay during research sessions on the 6th and 14th of August 2010. It covers observations made around Guildford Square, the Ferry terminal entrance/exit and the small garden to the south of the main square (on the corner of Montague Street and High Street). Issues observed include:

• the lack of adequate shelter and the state of the current seating and shelter provided • surface levels affecting foot traffic across the square • poor routing and signposting for those leaving ferries on foot • the lack of walkway or crossing point for passengers from the Waverly • low levels of use of the garden space despite its location

Observations and issues are presented for each of the main areas studied. Guildford Square The square seems to be primarily used by people shopping in the town as a place to meet others, sort through bags and rest a while. With its central location and abundance of benches it is also well used at lunchtime, especially in better weather, as a place for people to sit and eat. The only real form of shelter in the square is bus shelter; the trees provide little if any protection from the frequently inclement conditions. The bus shelter is large enough to provide protection from the elements and seating for a reasonable number of people, not just those waiting on a bus, and has seating facing south into the square. That said it cannot accommodate the numbers experienced at peak times (i.e. lunchtime) and the square would benefit from further shelter. The bus shelter is unfortunately poorly maintained, the frame is rusting and bare in many places with flaking paint detracting from the ornamental features of the ironwork. Two of the windows (one in the side and one in the roof) were missing panes of glass leaving users exposed to wind and rain. The seating within is damaged with slats missing; one of the benches facing the square actually collapsed beneath a user during the course of the observations.

19

It is not only the shelter that would benefit from a little care and maintenance; the benches around the square are not the most welcoming or comfortable. The combination of wooden slats, flaking paint and wet weather conditions has resulted in the benches becoming rotten and in places noticeably damaged. The slats remain water logged even after rain has passed making the benches unpleasant and uncomfortable. Other than a place to gather and rest the square also acts as a route way for foot traffic. The primary route is between the southwest and northeast corners linking the Castle and the shopping areas on Montague Street to the crossing at the ferry terminal. The issue here is that the square is on a number of levels with shallow stepped edges. This makes entering and exiting the square difficult for those with impaired mobility: the elderly or those with disabilities or even users pushing prams or buggies. Because of this a significant number of people choose to walk two sides of the square rather than cut across diagonally, generally using the south and east sides. Even this longer route is not as simple as it sounds: the south side of the square is dominated by parking making the route even longer with more twists and turns, a concern for those walking with a stick or in a wheelchair. [The parking in this area also restricts people’s ability to cross the square on its north-south axis.] The steps themselves do not raise the square sufficiently to make it a true stage for performances or even to make the square a feature truly distinct from the pavements around it, all they succeed in doing is making the route across the square unnecessarily awkward for foot traffic. Suggested improvements to the square include the provision of shelter. Considering the square is used for events this shelter would need to be temporary or semi-permanent. A possible solution would be using robust canopy structures which can be attached to secure fixing points built into the square. Improvements to the current shelter require some basic maintenance: a clean, a coat of paint and replacing missing seat slats and windowpanes. Improvements regarding the levels can only really take the form of a significant change to the surface of the square. Whilst lowering the whole surface is unlikely to be practical, reducing the number of steps and increasing the height of those remaining would better define the edge of the square and, by making them a more acceptable step size, should make them easier to negotiate. Inclusion of picnic benches in or around the Guildford Square area might also be considered to accommodate lunchtime uses of the square (these might, however, be best located in the garden area to the south of the square or near the tourist information centre in the Winter Gardens).

20

Ferry Terminal Observation at the ferry terminal was primarily focused around the routes people took on leaving the terminal. The potential routes identified where: leaving by car; leaving by taxi; catching a bus, walking east; walking west or crossing at the pedestrian crossing and walking south. The most common route identified for those leaving was south via the zebra crossing. This highlights the issue previously raised when looking at the terminal: the directional signs intended for those walking into town are still located at the previous crossing point; visitors now they find themselves walking into the town without directions to key attractions. A further issue was noted during the docking of the Waverly: passengers disembarking have to walk down the car access way to reach the town, upon reaching the pavement there is no crossing point meaning they either have to cross at their own risk or walk along the front towards the Winter Gardens. This problem is even more notable because, unlike the CalMac ferry, all the passengers on the Waverly are tourists and sightseers, not only this they are also all foot passengers. It is not particularly welcoming for visitors to have to dodge traffic as soon as they reach their destination. Very few passengers leaving the ferry took taxis, three or four vehicles are maybe justified but a rank of the current size seems unnecessary. It was also notable that few of the passengers disembarking left in cars parked at Guildford Square, numbers utilising this parking where a little higher at rush hour but were still low. Whilst it may be argued that central parking is required for shopping it would seem that having it this close to the terminal isn’t required for ferry users. If Rothesay is to be improved, especially from a visitor’s perspective, routing from the terminals on foot needs to be updated. The crossing south from the main CalMac terminal would benefit from informative signposting to direct visitors whilst the route from the Waverly’s pier area needs to be improved with a well-defined pedestrian walkway, signposts, links to the key attractions close to the terminal (Victorian toilets and Winter Gardens) and a properly located pedestrian crossing.

21

22

Garden (Montague Street corner) The third site observed during visits was the small garden between Guildford Square and Rothesay Castle. This is a pleasant area with flowers and plenty of benches. Unfortunately it seems under-used and for a lot of the observation period it was not used at all. The lower section of the garden has the potential to act as a through route allowing pedestrians to cut the corner between High Street and Montague Street but currently it is rarely used for this purpose. This is most likely because of the lack of line of sight through the space due to the bushes and flower beds. As it stands, the space provides a quiet and relatively serene space and, if this is the desired use, there is very little that could be done to improve the space other than to refresh some of the planting. The garden does, however, have a lot more potential and could provide a significant centrally located open space. A potential use for his space would be as a small venue. During observations it was noted that a group of musicians where attempting to busk outside the ferry terminal and kept being moved along by staff. The garden, as an open space adjacent to a shopping street and a major visitor attraction, would be a prime location to perform. It was also noted that the café Musiker across from the square promotes folk music and even provides an area for local musicians to rehearse, this could potentially be expanded out to the gardens providing a performance area and promotion for the café.

Documents

Placemaking report - Argyll and Bute · 2011-02-09 · ensuring a successful and thriving town centre. The Council recognises the importance of engaging and involving the broader